Awraq Publishing has made its first tentative step into magazine publishing after winning the contract to produce Jumana, the Burjuman shopping centre title.
The company, which produces Emirates Today and Emarat Al Youm newspapers and is part of the Arab Media Group, is looking to add a further five contract publishing magazines to its new division in the coming 18 months.
But Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO at AMG, played down the company’s move into magazines, saying he was not looking to develop the magazine publishing side of the business too quickly.
“There are a couple of magazines that we are looking at right now, which I believe will complement everything else that we do. But I don’t think it is the right time to get into this market,” he said.
“I am looking to get six contract publishing titles in the next year and a half.”
Awraq Publishing is understood to have edged out competition from ITP Consumer, part of the ITP group, publisher of Campaign, to secure the Jumana contract. Motivate is currently the biggest player in the contract publishing market.
A dedicated editorial staff will be hired to produce the bi-monthly English language magazine, which Awraq hopes to take monthly by the end of the year.
Al Sayegh also revealed that AMG was looking at setting up a TV production house to provide locally-produced content to the region’s television stations.
He said that talks have been held with international production companies and said a deal to partner with one was close to being signed.
“I want to feed television stations that want some sort of international programme format, but with a Gulf flavour,” Al Sayegh said.
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